How Roman shipwreck pottery inspired a modern artistic exploration of ancient feasting rituals
In short: The British Museum collaborated with Turner Contemporary to showcase samian ware, Roman pottery salvaged from a shipwreck near Whitstable. This partnership commissioned artist Hannah Lees to interpret the artifacts, blending historical accuracy with contemporary art to re-examine the cultural significance of ancient dining.
From late 2016 through early 2017, the British Museum displayed samian ware—often called pudding pans—at the Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate. These artifacts, recovered from a Roman vessel that sank off the Kent coast, served as the foundation for a new installation by artist Hannah Lees.
To ensure the work remained grounded in historical reality, Lees consulted with British Museum experts Richard Hobbs and Sam Moorhead. By focusing on the theme of feasting, the project sought to bridge the gap between archaeological finds and modern creative expression, offering a fresh lens through which to view Roman material culture.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Shipwrecks and samian ware: commissioning art with Turner Contemporary
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